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AFL preview - Round nine
Thursday, May 23, 2013
This week's games:
Magpies v Swans Saints v Bulldogs Hawks v Suns
Port v Cats Lions v Blues Kangaroos v Crows
Giants v Eagles Tigers v Bombers Dockers v Demons

MAGPIES v SWANS
MCG, Friday 7.50pm AEST
Collingwood's attack has a threatening look with Travis Cloke supported by crumbers Andrew Krakouer and Sam Dwyer. The eighth-placed Magpies are coming off an excellent win over Geelong and have the home-ground advantage against the fourth-placed Swans who could only manage a draw at the SCG against Fremantle. Sydney are chasing their first win over Collingwood at the MCG since 2000.

Key: Collingwood's onball division will be tested by Sydney's crack combination including Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack. The goalkicking power of midfielders Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan could be crucial for the Magpies.

Tip: Magpies by 16 points
Last clash: Finals Week 3 2012 - Swans 13.18 (96) bt Magpies 10.10 (70) at ANZ Stadium Head to head: Magpies 138 Swans 80 drawn 1
Magpies:
Backs: Brown Reid O'Brien
Half-backs: Russell Maxwell Williams
Centres: Sidebottom Swan Ball
Half-forwards: Elliott Lynch Macaffer
Forwards: Kennedy Cloke Dwyer
Followers: Jolly Pendlebury
Rover: Blair
Interchange: Krakouer Clarke Witts Seedsman
Emergencies: Didak J Thomas Sinclair
In: Clarke
Out: J Thomas
Swans:
Backs: Malceski T Richards Smith
Half-backs: McVeigh Grundy Rampe
Centres: Jetta O'Keefe Hannebery
Half-forwards: Morton Reid Bolton
Forwards: Parker Goodes McGlynn
Followers: Pyke Kennedy
Rover: K Jack
Interchange: Bird Everitt Lamb Mumford
Emergencies: Armstrong Mitchell Walsh
In: Lamb
Out: Walsh
$1.55 Odds $2.45

 

PORT v CATS
AAMI Stadium, Saturday 1.45pm (AEST)
Port's five-game winning streak at the start of the season has been replaced by a three-match losing run and taking on the second-placed Cats will be no picnic. The Cats are also smarting after last week's first loss of the season and the return of brilliant midfielder Steve Johnson is a further boost for Chris Scott's side. Port haven't beaten Geelong at AAMI Stadium since 2004.

Key: Geelong skipper Joel Selwood had a very quiet first half last week and Port will be have a tough task to match the tagging efforts of Collingwood's Brent Macaffer from last week.

Tip: Cats by 41 points
Last clash: Round 14 2012 - Cats 14.15 (99) bt Power 8.13 (61) at Skilled Stadium Head to head: Power 8 Cats 15 drawn 1
Port:
Backs: O'Shea Carlile Heath
Half-backs: Brad Ebert Jonas Logan
Centres: Cornes Boak Broadbent
Half-forwards: Moore Westhoff Monfries
Forwards: Wingard Schulz Gray
Followers: Redden Hartlett
Rover: Wines
Interchange: Mitchell Colquhoun Lobbe Thomas
Emergencies: Hitchcock Stevenson Clurey
In: Logan Thomas Heath Colquhoun
Out: Cassisi (hamstring) P Stewart Stevenson Neade
Cats:
Backs: Mackie Lonergan Enright
Half-backs: Guthrie Taylor Thurlow
Centres: Duncan Bartel Motlop
Half-forwards: Stokes Johnson Burbury
Forwards: Christensen Hawkins Podsiadly
Followers: West Selwood
Rover: Corey
Interchange: Smedts J Hunt Caddy Blicavs
Emergencies: Brown Schroder Kersten
In: Johnson Burbury
Out: Schroder Horlin-Smith (soreness)
New: George Burbury, 20, Hobart (Tas)
$5.75 Odds $1.14

 

GIANTS v EAGLES
Skoda Stadium, Saturday 2.10pm
Following the excitement of last week's post-siren win over North Melbourne, West Coast now face what's expected to be a light training run against the bottom side. GWS coach Kevin Sheedy's cheeky suggestion about trading an entire year of draft picks to snare ruckman Nic Naitanui has at least added some interest to the game following Naitanui's heroics last week.

Key: Young GWS forward Jeremy Cameron managed four goals in an 83-point loss to Hawthorn last week but a likely avalanche of possession going the other way will leave the Giants' key forwards starved of opportunities against the Eagles.

Tip: Eagles by 73 points
Last clash: Round 3 2012 - Eagles 23.12 (150) bt Giants 10.9 (69) at Blacktown Olympic Park Head to head: Giants 0 Eagles 1
Giants:
Backs: Bruce Gilham Mohr
Half-backs: Buntine Corr Miles
Centres: Smith Green Palmer
Half-forwards: Treloar Cameron Whitfield
Forwards: Adams Tomlinson Ward
Followers: Brogan Scully
Rover: Coniglio
Interchange: Hampton Shiel Giles Kennedy
Emergencies: Townsend O'hAilpin Downie
In: Hampton Treloar Buntine
Out: Bugg (illness) Golds Whiley
Eagles:
Backs: Brennan Glass Brown
Half-backs: Hurn Mackenzie Butler
Centres: Gaff S Selwood Dalziell
Half-forwards: LeCras Darling Masten
Forwards: Cox Kennedy Kerr
Followers: Naitanui Priddis
Rover: Shuey
Interchange: Rosa Hill Sheppard Hutchings
Emergencies: Embley Hams Wilson
In: Butler Brown Dalziell Hutchings
Out: A Selwood (quad) Waters (quad) Schofield (finger) Wellingham (ankle)
$17.00 Odds $1.01

 

SAINTS v BULLDOGS
Etihad Stadium, Saturday 4.40pm AEST
St Kilda (15th) and Western Bulldogs (16th) boast only three wins between them this season but most observers would suggest there's a sizeable gap between the two sides. Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney says his men are closer than people might think to achieving some better results, which might provide some hope to fans who have suffered through 18 losses in the club's past 19 games. The Saints have won their past eight meetings with the Bulldogs and regain veteran onballer Lenny Hayes.

Key: The Bulldogs will struggle to contain St Kilda's star forward Nick Riewoldt.

Tip: Saints by 39 points
Last clash: Round 18 2012 - Saints 16.22 (118) bt Bulldogs 6.6 (42) at Etihad Stadium Head to head: Saints 79 Bulldogs 70 drawn 3
Saints:
Backs: Stanley Gwilt Newnes
Half-backs: Dempster Fisher Webster
Centres: Ray Hayes Roberton
Half-forwards: Dal Santo Maister Geary
Forwards: Hickey Riewoldt Milne
Followers: McEvoy Montagna
Rover: Steven
Interchange: Ross Siposs Armitage Saad
Emergencies: Jones Milera Saunders
In: Hayes
Out: Milera
Bulldogs:
Backs: Picken Roughead Johannisen
Half-backs: Young Morris Goodes
Centres: Boyd Griffen Murphy
Half-forwards: Dahlhaus Jones Stringer
Forwards: Addison Williams Giansiracusa
Followers: Minson Smith
Rover: Liberatore
Interchange: Macrae Hrovat Stevens Lower
Emergencies: Wallis Cross Markovic
In: Addison Williams Hrovat
Out: Cross Cooney (hamstring) Markovic
New: Nathan Hrovat, 18, Northern U18
$1.18 Odds $4.90

 

LIONS v BLUES
Gabba, Saturday 7.40pm AEST
Carlton have a 4-4 record and sit outside the eight and can't afford to be losing to lower-ranked opponents like Brisbane. However the Lions are in a good frame of mind after their upset win over Essendon last week. The return of Bryce Gibbs is a boost for the Blues.

Key: Defender Michael Jamison's stopping role on Brisbane's veteran big man Jonathan Brown will be a crucial battle between two of the game's elite players.

Tip: Blues by 18 points
Last clash: Round 20 2012 - Blues 17.11 (113) bt Lions 10.17 (77) at Etihad Stadium Head to head: Lions 12 Blues 13
Lions:
Backs: Adcock Patfull McGrath
Half-backs: Yeo Lester Staker
Centres: Raines Black Polkinghorne
Half-forwards: Bewick Brown Hanley
Forwards: Zorko Lisle Rockliff
Followers: Leuenberger Moloney
Rover: Redden
Interchange: Green Mayes Golby Michael
Emergencies: Docherty Banfield Karnezis
In: Green Michael
Out: Merrett (suspended) Clarke (suspended)
New: Sam Michael, 19, Redland (Qld)
Blues:
Backs: Robinson Jamison Henderson
Half-backs: Tuohy Armfield White
Centres: Lucas Judd Simpson
Half-forwards: Curnow Walker Garlett
Forwards: McLean Waite Kreuzer
Followers: Warnock Murphy
Rover: Scotland
Interchange: Bell Bootsma Cachia Gibbs
Emergencies: Menzel Casboult Laidler
In: Gibbs
Out: Menzel
$3.00 Odds $1.40

 

TIGERS v BOMBERS
MCG, Saturday 7.45pm AEST
Essendon's supplements saga has taken another twist with chief executive Ian Robson's resignation. The players admit the interview process as part of the supplements investigation has been draining and Essendon have gone on a two-match losing run after a 6-0 start to the season. A crowd of 80,000 is tipped for the Dreamtime clash and Richmond, with ruckman Ivan Maric back from injury, will need to lift to be competitive after their underwhelming win over Melbourne.

Key: Richmond's key forwards Jack Riewoldt and Ty Vickery copped a post-match blast from coach Damien Hardwick last week for poor goalkicking and improved finishing from both could swing an upset win for the Tigers.

Tip: Tigers by 10 points
Last clash: Round 22 2012 - Tigers 13.24 (102) bt Bombers 8.9 (57) at MCG Head to head: Tigers 85 Bombers 102 drawn 4
Tigers:
Backs: Morris Rance Chaplin
Half-backs: Newman Ellis Houli
Centres: Grigg Cotchin Jackson
Half-forwards: Deledio S Edwards King
Forwards: Vickery Riewoldt Martin
Followers: Maric Foley
Rover: Vlastuin
Interchange: White Batchelor McGuane Lonergan
Emergencies: A Edwards Nahas Dea
In: Newman Lonergan Maric
Out: Nahas Stephenson Dea
New: Sam Lonergan, 26, Essendon
Bombers:
Backs: Carlisle Fletcher Dempsey
Half-backs: Heppell Hooker Hibberd
Centres: Stanton Watson Melksham
Half-forwards: Winderlich Crameri Goddard
Forwards: Zaharakis Bellchambers Hurley
Followers: Ryder Hocking
Rover: Howlett
Interchange: Baguley Myers Kommer Jetta
Emergencies: Ashby Kavanagh Gumbleton
In: Dempsey Jetta
Out: Kavanagh Merrett
$2.05 Odds $1.78

 

HAWKS v SUNS
MCG, Sunday 1.10pm AEST
Seeing Brownlow Medal favourite Gary Ablett go head-to-head in midfield against Hawthorn's own medal contender Sam Mitchell will be a highlight of this clash between the premiership favourites and the 12th-placed Gold Coast. While Ablett's side have won their past two matches, a hat-trick looks unlikely judging by the bookmakers' odds on this MCG clash. The Hawks have left out ruckman David Hale who has a sore ankle.

Key: Hawthorn's Lance Franklin says even though he's only kicked 20 goals this season, he's still contributing in other ways. Sunday's game is a chance for the four-time All-Australian to get a confidence-boosting big haul of goals.

Tip: Hawks by 44 points
Last clash: Round 21 2012 - Hawks 19.15 (129) bt Suns 10.5 (65) at MCG Head to head: Hawks 3 Suns 0
Hawks:
Backs: Stratton Lake Guerra
Half-backs: Mitchell Gibson Birchall
Centres: Smith Hodge Shiels
Half-forwards: Puopolo Franklin Lewis
Forwards: Gunston Roughead Breust
Followers: Bailey Sewell
Rover: Burgoyne
Interchange: From: Spangher Simpkin Grimley Hill Duryea Cheney Osborne
In: Gibson Cheney Grimley Hill
Out: Hale (ankle)
New: Sam Grimley, 22, Northern U18
Suns:
Backs: McKenzie Hutchins Stanley
Half-backs: Swallow Thompson Murphy
Centres: Shaw Ablett Harbrow
Half-forwards: Broughton Lynch Lonergan
Forwards: Brown May A Hall
Followers: Day O'Meara
Rover: Prestia
Interchange: From: Gorringe Matera Brennan Russell Nicholls Horsley Wilkinson
In: Murphy Horsley Wilkinson Nicholls Gorringe
Out: Smith (knee) Bennell (hamstring)
$1.01 Odds $17.00

 

 

KANGAROOS v CROWS
Etihad Stadium, Sunday 3.20pm AEST
Last week's after-the-siren goal from West Coast's Nic Naitanui puts the Kangaroos in danger of dropping out of finals contention at 3-5. Adelaide are 4-4 and coming off two successive wins with a third victory in their sights in what is shaping as a tight contest between two sides striving to keep in touch with the eight. Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane lead a powerful midfield unit for the Crows while the Kangaroos need the pacy Daniel Wells to dominate proceedings.

Key: Adelaide's marking power up forward, featuring Josh Jenkins, Shaun McKernan and Tom Lynch, will stretch North's defence led by Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima.

Tip: Crows by 15 points
Last clash: Round 13 2012 - Kangaroos 17.19 (121) bt Crows 13.11 (89) at Etihad Stadium Head to head: Kangaroos 17 Crows 16
Kangaroos:
Backs: Mullett Thompson Macmillan
Half-backs: Wells Grima Firrito
Centres: Gibson Atley Bastinac
Half-forwards: Cunnington Petrie Harvey
Forwards: Thomas Daw Adams
Followers: Goldstein Swallow
Rover: Ziebell
Interchange: From: Hansen Gysberts Wright Hine Sierakowski Black McMahon
In: Sierakowski Gysberts Hine
Out: Nil
New: Jordan Gysberts, 21, Melbourne
Crows:
Backs: Brown Rutten Otten
Half-backs: Reilly Talia Smith
Centres: Vince Dangerfield Mackay
Half-forwards: Sloane Jenkins Lyons
Forwards: Kerridge Lynch Douglas
Followers: Jacobs S Thompson
Rover: van Berlo
Interchange: From: Wright Petrenko McKernan Callinan Porplyzia Henderson Laird
In: Petrenko Callinan Henderson
Out: Nil
$1.48 Odds $2.65

 

DOCKERS v DEMONS
Subiaco, Sunday 4.40pm (AEST)
Melbourne showed a bit of ticker last week in their 34-point loss to Richmond but now face a trip to Subiaco where they've lost their past 13 matches. While Melbourne (1-7) are fending off criticism that some of their high-profile players may be seeking trades at the end of the season, fifth-placed Fremantle are making plans for finals football in September and look set for a percentage-boosting win.

Key: Fremantle's injury list is a concern for coach Ross Lyon but their depth will be too much for the Demons.

Tip: Dockers by 58 points
Last clash: Round 12 2012 - Crows 17.13 (115) bt Saints 16.15 (111) at AAMI Stadium Head to head: Crows 19 Saints 15 drawn 1
Dockers:
Backs: Spurr Dawson Johnson
Half-backs: Ibbotson McPharlin Silvagni
Centres: Sutcliffe Crowley Duffield
Half-forwards: Barlow Mayne Fyfe
Forwards: de Boer Clarke Ballantyne
Followers: Hannath Mundy
Rover: Pearce
Interchange: From: Suban Pearce Mzungu Taberner Crozier Simpson Michie
In: Michie Crozier Taberner Simpson
Out: Walters (ankle)
New: Matt Taberner, 19, Murray Bushrangers U18; Josh Simpson, 19, East Fremantle (WAFL); Viv Michie, 21, Oakleigh U18
Demons:
Backs: Dunn Frawley Terlich
Half-backs: Watts Sellar Garland
Centres: Trengove Evans M Jones
Half-forwards: Tapscott Howe Jetta
Forwards: Gawn Dawes Davey
Followers: Jamar N Jones
Rover: Magner
Interchange: From: Byrnes McKenzie Strauss Nicholson Gillies Bail Spencer
In: Byrnes Gillies Spencer Watts
Out: Toumpas (ankle)
$1.01 Odds $17.00

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